Ride the airwaves
Meaning
To broadcast or transmit information, entertainment, or messages widely via radio or television.
Origin
Before the 20th century, the concept of sound traveling invisibly through the atmosphere to be heard miles away was pure fantasy. But with Guglielmo Marconi's breakthroughs in wireless communication, the "air" suddenly became a highway for unseen electromagnetic waves. As radio broadcasting soared in popularity during the 1920s, the magical notion of voices and music "traveling" or "riding" these invisible currents captured the public's imagination. The phrase "ride the airwaves" perfectly crystallized this marvel, representing the effortless and widespread dissemination of information and entertainment across vast distances, a revolutionary act enabled by this new, unseen medium.
Examples
- The new political candidate hoped to ride the airwaves with a powerful message of change and reach voters across the nation.
- After years of local success, the band was finally ready to ride the airwaves and share their music with a global audience.